Saint Charles, Missouri, Where History Comes Alive!

In the mid 1700s when fur traders rounded a bend in the Missouri River and saw the land before them, they knew it was a good place to make camp and found a city. They were right. St. Charles, Missouri has grown from that small fur trading camp seeing Lewis and Clark off on their great journey, to the first capitol of the State of Missouri becoming a city of 60,000 residents in the fastest growing county in the state. St. Charles indeed has a pound past and promising future.

Due to its proud heritage, St. Charles is home to more that 125 unique crafts and antiques shops, and hosts multiple festivals throughout the year, attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually. Yet, St. Charles is a growing community averaging 12 to 15 new businesses each month and is experiencing major additions to the area in the form of a $75 million Convention Center and 300 room hotel, a $150 million expansion to the Ameristar Casino including a 400 room hotel, and a $32 million Performing Arts Center on the expanding campus of Lindenwood University. St. Charles is easily accessible via air or land with St. Louis-Lambert International Airport being seven miles to our east and I-70, a major east-west highway, going through the city.

St. Charles is committed to providing the infrastructure needed for the continued growth and development of the community. Specifically, improvements to major area highways have been completed. Also, an extensive fiber optic system is provided throughout the city. Additionally, within 35 miles there are venues for major league baseball, football and hockey. The top notch St. Louis Art Museum and Zoo and the world renowned Missouri Botanical Garden are also within that distance from St. Charles.

St. Charles has been and continues to be a wonderful place to live and raise a family. It has a very strong tradition and sense of commitment to its residents, while at the same time, attracting new citizens to enjoy the wonder life the fur traders began more than 230 years ago.

About the School District

The St. Charles School District has played an integral role in the City of St. Charles and its rich history.

The district is located primarily in St. Charles City proper, a close-knit but thriving satellite community of the St. Louis metropolitan area. Approximately 85 percent of the District is in the City of St. Charles, seven percent is in the City of St. Peters, and the remainder is in unincorporated areas. The District encompasses 17 square miles and is bounded on the east by the Missouri River.

There are approximately 5,200 students in the St. Charles District. Two 9th-12th grade comprehensive high schools serve 1800 students; two middle schools comprised of one 5th/6th grade middle school and one 7th-8th grade intermediate school serve 1800 students; and six elementary schools which serve 1800 students in grades K-4th. In addition, the District features the Lewis and Clark Career Center which serves students from throughout St. Charles County and the Success Campus.

Our district received its first Distinction in Performance for Improvement from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Schools (DESE) in May 2006, and has continued to win this award every year since. DESE praised our District's individual student performance standards. Students in St. Charles School District historically score above state and national averages on the ACT and MAP (Missouri Assessment Program). Both high schools are designated A+ Schools.